Objective To observe the effects of five flavonoids include rutin(RU),dihydromyricetin(DMY),hesperetin(HP),daidzein(DA)and hydroxysaffor yellow A(HYSA)on myocardiocyte apoptosis induced by H2O2 and to explore their relationships with Keshan disease and the possible mechanism.Methods Primary cultured cardiocytes of neonatal rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,and flavonoids preincubation group.The cardiocyte apoptosis was examined by fluorescent staining,the rates of apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry,the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins associated with apoptosis were observed:by Western blot.Results Compared with model group[(24.33±6.51)%],RU[(13.95±3.80)%],DA[(11.82±3.50)%],HYSA[(12.33±3.78)%]could decreased the rate of apoptosis(P＜0.05).The five flavonoids could up-regulate Bcl-2 expression,down-regulate Bax expression,and increase the Bcl-2/Bax ratio[RU(0.989±0.094),DMY(0.931±0.280),HP(0.980±0.095),DA(1.049±0.092),HYSA(1.031±0.039),vs model(0.490±0.046),the difference had statistical significances(P＜0.05)],but the Bcl-xl did not significantly changed(P＞0.05).Conclusions RU,DMY,HP,DA and HYSA have antiapoptotic effects on cardiomyocyte via regulating Bcl-2 and Bax,which gives us a hint in prevention and treatment of Keshan disease.

This study aims to investigate the serotype distribution of non-polio enterovirus (NPEV) isolated from patients with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) during 2011-2012 in Hebei Province, China and to analyze the relationship between these viruses and AFP. NPEV strains were isolated from the stool specimens from AFP cases in Hebei using human rhabdomyosarcoma cells (RD) and the mouse cell line expressing the gene for the human cellular receptor for poliovirus (L20B) according to the WHO requirements. The nucleotide sequence of VP1 region was determined, and the serotypes of NPEV were identified by molecular typing. The results showed that among the 82 strains of NPEV isolated from the AFP cases during 2011-2012, 42 isolates (55.3%) were identified as human enterovirus A (HEV-A), which were classified into 4 serotypes, 34 (44.7%) as human enterovirus B (HEV-B), which were classified into 13 serotypes, 2 as adenovirus, and 4 were untyped; human enteroviruses C and D were not found in these cases. Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) was the main type of HEV-A, accounting for 85.7% of all HEV-A strains. HEV-A, especially EV-A71, was predominant among the NPEV strains isolated from AFP patients during 2011-2012 in Hebei Province.
Acute Disease ; China ; epidemiology ; Enterovirus ; classification ; physiology ; Humans ; Paralysis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Seasons ; Serotyping

The relationship between tyrosine phosphorylation (TP) and protein expression of insulin receptor (InsR) and insulin resistance (IR) in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was investigated. The InsR expression and TP in skeleton muscle tissue were determined by Western blotting and immunoprecipitation in women with GDM (GDM group, n=22), normal pregnant women (normal pregnancy group, n=22) and normal non-pregnant women (normal non-pregnant group, n=13). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin (FINS) were measured by oxidase assay and immunoradioassay. The results showed that the levels of FPG (5.61±0.78 mmol/L), FINS (15.42±5.13 mU/L) and Homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR) (1.21±0.52) in GDM group were significantly higher than those in normal pregnancy group (4.43±0.46 mmol/L, 10.56±3.07 mU/L and 0.80±0.31 respectively) (P<0.01). The levels of FINS and HOMA-IR in normal pregnancy group were significantly higher than those in normal non-pregnant group (7.56±2.31 mU/L and 0.47±0.26 respectively) (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the InsR expression level among the three groups (P>0.05). TP of InsR with insulin stimulation was significantly decreased in GDM group (0.20±0.05) as compared with normal pregnancy group (0.26±0.06) (P<0.01). TP of InsR with insulin stimulation in normal pregnancy group was lower than that in normal non-pregnant group (0.31±0.06) (P<0.01). TP of InsR with insulin stimulation was negatively related with HOMA-IR in GDM group (r=-0.525, P<0.01). There was no correlation between the protein expression of InsR and HOMA-IR in GDM group (r=-0.236, P>0.05). It was suggested that there is no significant correlation between the protein expression of InsR in skeletal muscle and IR in GDM, but changes in TP of InsR are associated with IR in GDM.

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of mild moxibustion on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) visceral hyperalgesiamodel rats and its regulatory effect on P2X3 receptors in the spinal cord, anterior cingutate cortex (ACC) and thalamic ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL). Methods: Thirty 8-day-old newborn rats were randomly divided into a normal group (n=6) and a modeling group (n=24) according to the completely random number table method. Rats in the normal group were bred routinely, and those in the modeling group were subjected to preparing IBS chronic visceral hyperalgesia model using colorectal distention (CRD) in stimulation method. Rats successfully modelled were re-divided into a model group, a mild moxibustion group, a P2X3 receptor antagonist group, and a normal saline group according to the completely random number table method with 6 rats in each group. Rats in each group received corresponding interventions from the 37-day old, once a day for 7 consecutive days. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays were used to detect P2X3 protein expressions in the spinal cord, ACC and VPL of rats. Results: Under different intensities of CRD stimulation, the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scores of the model group were significantly increased versus the normal group (all P<0.05); the AWR scores of the mild moxibustion group and the P2X3 receptor antagonist group were significantly reduced versus the model group (all P<0.01). The P2X3 protein expressions in rat spinal cord, ACC and VPL tissues of the model group were significantly increased versus the normal group (all P<0.01); the P2X3 protein expressions in rat spinal cord, ACC and VPL tissues of the mild moxibustion group and the P2X3 receptor antagonist group were significantly reduced versus the model group (all P<0.01). Conclusion: Mild moxibustion can inhibit the P2X3 receptor expressions in the spinal cord, ACC, and VPL tissues of IBS visceral hyperalgesia model rats, which may be the mechanism of mild moxibustion in relieving the central sensitization of rats with IBS visceral hyperalgesia.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the biomechanical characteristics of the decellularized laryngeal scaffold.

METHODSTen Chinese adult dogs were randomly divided into two groups: perfusion group (n = 5) and control group (n = 5). The acellular larynx scaffold was obtained from dogs through cranial thyroid arteries perfusion with detergents. Comparative examinations were performed by the macroscopic view, histological view (hematoxylin and eosin stain, Alcian blue stain and Masson stain), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and biomechanical properties between perfusion group and control group.

RESULTSMacroscopic view showed that the decellularized laryngeal scaffold appeared pale asphyxia. HE stain indicated that there were little acellular traces of muscle and mucosa. Alcian blue stain, Masson stain and scanning electron microscope (SEM) suggested that there were no obvious changes about glycosaminoglycan and collagen. The compressive modulus of thyroid cartilage was (1.06 ± 0.07) MPa (x(-) ± s) in experimental groups and (1.15 ± 0.11) MPa in control group, showing no significant difference (t = 1.424, P > 0.05), neither in compressive modulus of annular cartilage (1.68 ± 0.11) MPa in experimental groups and (1.67 ± 0.09) MPa in control group (t = 0.185, P > 0.05). The tensile strength of thyroid cartilage between experimental (5.74 ± 0.88) MPa and control groups (6.18 ± 1.33) MPa did not have the statistical significance (t = 0.627, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that perfusion method can construct a perfect biomechanical acellular larynx scaffold which could be a better selection for laryngeal reconstruction with tissue engineering method.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cartilage, Articular ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Dogs ; Larynx, Artificial ; Stents ; Tensile Strength ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

WNT signaling plays an important role in cardiac development, but abnormal activity is often associated with cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, remodeling, and heart failure. The effect of WNT signaling on regulation of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion is unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Wnt agonist 1 (Wnta1) on ANP secretion and mechanical dynamics in beating rat atria. Wnta1 treatment significantly increased atrial ANP secretion and pulse pressure; these effects were blocked by U73122, an antagonist of phospholipase C. U73122 also abolished the effects of Wnta1-mediated upregulation of protein kinase C (PKC) β and γ expression, and the PKC antagonist Go 6983 eliminated Wnta1-induced secretion of ANP. In addition, Wnta1 upregulated levels of phospho-transforming growth factor-β activated kinase 1 (p-TAK1), TAK1 banding 1 (TAB1) and phospho-activating transcription factor 2 (p-ATF2); these effects were blocked by both U73122 and Go 6983. Wnta1-induced ATF2 was abrogated by inhibition of TAK1. Furthermore, Wnta1 upregulated the expression of T cell factor (TCF) 3, TCF4, and lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF1), and these effects were blocked by U73122 and Go 6983. Tak1 inhibition abolished the Wnta1-induced expression of TCF3, TCF4, and LEF1 and Wnta1-mediated ANP secretion and changes in mechanical dynamics. These results suggest that Wnta1 increased the secretion of ANP and mechanical dynamics in beating rat atria by activation of PKC–TAK1–ATF2–TCF3/LEF1 and TCF4/LEF1 signaling mainly via the WNT/Ca2+ pathway. It is also suggested that WNT–ANP signaling is implicated in cardiac physiology and pathophysiology.

Objective To study the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) characteristics of Yersinia pestis strains from different natural foci in China.Methods Genome-wide comparison was done to find SNP sites by the Mummer program among 9 Yersinia pestis genome which was downloaded from NCBI.Then 13 genic fragments including 19 SNP sites were amplified by PCR and sequenced in 133 Yersinia pestis strains,and the results were cluster analyzed with the BioNumerics software.Results Three thousand seven hundred and eighty sequence variation sites were found by genome-wide comparison.Using the different combinations of SNP sites,UPGMA cluster analysis revealed obvious geographic regional and eco-aggregation characteristics of Yersinia pestis strains isolated from China.Conclusions As relatively stable genetic markers,SNP can better reflect the genome characteristics of Yersinia pestis in different plague natural foci of China.

OBJECTIVETo identify a novel HLA-DRB1 allele in Chinese.

METHODSA novel HLA-DR allele was detected by PCR-SSP and SBT in a patient with leukemia.

RESULTSThe sequence of the novel allele was different from all other known alleles. The novel allele differed from the closet matching allele HLA-DRB1*1404 by one nucleotide substitution in exon 2, at position 33 T>C, this resulted in an amino acid change from Tyr to His at codon 17.

CONCLUSIONThe novel allele is confirmed as a new HLA allele and it was officially named HLA-DRB1*1461 by WHO Nomenclature Committee in May, 2006.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of two histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, valproic acid (VPA) and TSA, on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor KDR of the leukemia cell line Kasumi-1 cells, and to explore their potential mechanism in leukemia angiogenesis.

METHODKasumi-1 cells were treated with VPA and TSA at different concentrations for 3 days. The mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF and KDR were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, and the bFGF mRNA by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSAs compared with that of control groups, VPA at 3 mmol/L downregulated the VEGF mRNA expression level for VEGF(121) from 0.632 ± 0.014 to 0.034 ± 0.004 and for VEGF(165) from 0.526 ± 0.021 to 0.015 ± 0.001, for KDR mRNA from 0.258 ± 0.034 to 0.038 ± 0.000, and for bFGF mRNA from 0.228 ± 0.017 to 0.086 ± 0.015. TSA downregulated the VEGF mRNA and KDR mRNA at concentration of 100 nmol/L, but its effect on bFGF mRNA only at higher concentration.

CONCLUSIONHDAC inhibitors might inhibit the leukemia angiogenesis by regulating the expression of VEGF and its recptor.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Cell Line ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Valproic Acid ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

The liver injury induced by Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PM) was investigated based on idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity model co-treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a non-hepatotoxic dose. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were intragastrically administered with three doses (18.9, 37.8, 75.6 g crude drug per kg body weight) of 50% alcohol extracts of PM alone or co-treated with non-toxic dose of LPS (2.8 mg·kg(-1)) via tail vein injection. The plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were assayed and the isolated livers were evaluated for histopathological changes. The dose-toxicity relationships of single treatment of PM or co-treatment of LPS were investigated comparatively to elucidate the idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity of PM. The results showed that no significant alterations of plasma ALT and AST activities were observed in the groups of solo-administration of LPS (2.8 mg·kg(-1), i.v.) or different dosage (18.9, 37.8 and 75.6 g·kg(-1), i.g.) of PM, compared to normal control group (P > 0.05); while significant elevations were observed in the co-administration groups of PM and LPS. Treatment with LPS alone caused slight infiltration of inflammatory cells in portal area but no evident hepatocytes injury. Co-treatment with LPS and PM (75.6 g·kg(-1), i.g.) caused hepatocyte focal necrosis, loss of central vein intima and a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration in portal areas. When further reduce the dosage of PM, significant increases of plasma ALT and AST activities (P < 0.05) were still observed in co-administration groups of LPS and PM (1.08 or 2.16 g·kg(-1)), but not in LPS or PM solo-administration groups. Nevertheless, the co-treatment of low dosage of PM (0.54 g·kg(-1)) with LPS did not induce any alteration of plasma ALT and AST. In conclusion, intragastric administration with 75.6 g·kg(-1) of PM did not induce liver injury in normal rats model; while the 2 folds of clinical equivalent dose of PM (1.08 g·kg(-1)) could result in liver injury in the LPS-based idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity model, which could be used to evaluate the idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity of PM.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; pathology ; Hepatocytes ; pathology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Polygonum ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley